Surprise starter Hayne helps spark 49ers opening-series TD

Jarryd Hayne made his first career start and helped spark a touchdown drive on the 49ers’ opening series at Detroit.

In his first carries at running back since Oct. 11 against the New York Giants, Hayne gained 15 yards on three carries on the opening possession, which culminated with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Blaine Gabbert to tight end Vance McDonald.

After 15 games, the 49ers offense finally had a first-quarter touchdown.

The 49ers announced before the game that they’d start either Kendall Gaskins or DuJuan Harris, and instead it was Hayne who got the nod after the opening kickoff resulted in a touchback. Shaun Draughn, their starter the previous six games, did not suit up because of a knee injury, while previous starters Carlos Hyde and Reggie Bush are on injured reserve.

After a 5-yard completion to Anquan Boldin for his 1,000th career catch, Hayne took the second-down handoff up the middle for a 4-yard gain.

Harris replaced Hayne on the next three snaps and delivered a 22-yard run, an 11-yard catch and a 3-yard run.

Hayne burst loose on his next carry, rumbling a career-long 11 yards off left guard and stiff-arming linebacker Josh Bynes. Although Hayne got stopped for no gain on a first-down carry from the 8, the 49ers would score a few snaps later after Gabbert faked a handoff to Gaskins and found McDonald open in the end zone.